Elixirs

"You were from the Li Jing Li Family? The Li Clan by Moon Gazing Lake?"

Ning Wan parted her crimson lips, and the expressions of those below immediately varied. Secret discussions rose all around: "Why have I never heard of this Li Jing Li Family? Why was the envoy personally asking about them?"

"Who knows..."

Xiao Chuting also looked down, nodded at Li Tongya, and smiled lightly at him.

Li Tongya was first startled. He raised his head slightly and caught sight of the tender white skin beneath Ning Wan's veil and the clear, graceful line of her jaw. Neither servile nor overbearing, he answered:

"Reporting to the envoy, I am Li Tongya of the Li Clan. Our Li Jing Mountain lies beside Moon Gazing Lake."

"What relation is Li Chijing to you?"

At those words, Li Tongya's eyes lit up, and his heart settled completely. He knew Li Chijing had most likely put in a word for him within the sect, so he answered with utmost respect:

"He is my younger brother."

Ning Wan pressed her lips together and flicked her left hand. A small brocade pouch flew out and slowly landed in Li Tongya's hand. She said softly:

"This is from your brother."

"Many thanks, Immortal Fairy!"

Li Tongya hurriedly accepted it. Seeing everyone around him staring at him in astonishment, he could not help but smile bitterly.

He had never been one to court attention, yet he had somehow become the center of everyone's gaze. Feeling as though thorns were pressed against his back, he hastily thanked her again.

Ning Wan nodded at him, then spoke with Xiao Chuting at her side. The two exchanged a few words with smiles, while everyone below handed over their tributes.

"Reporting to the Immortal Master, all thirty-four families of Li Xia County have arrived!"

The servant below finished counting the goods and respectfully called out to Ning Wan.

"Good."

Ning Wan nodded and said to Xiao Chuting:

"This junior still has duties to attend to. Since the tributes have all been paid, I shall not linger."

"Safe travels, envoy."

Xiao Chuting cupped his hands and watched with a smile as Ning Wan boarded the flying ship.

Only after watching the Radiance Cloud Ship slowly rise and vanish eastward beyond the horizon did Xiao Chuting turn to face the crowd below. He spoke blandly:

"We are all old friends. Those Rogue Cultivators have already arrived at the foot of the mountain, and the market below has been open for several days. You may go trade there."

"The old rules still apply. Crown Cloud Market belongs to my Xiao Family, so give us some face. Whoever dares fight and rob, or force purchases and sales within the market, will be smashing my family's signboard."

"Yes."

Everyone below answered and headed down the mountain. Several people also came forward, hoping to speak with Li Tongya. Wan Yuankai looked at him enviously and was about to speak when Xiao Chuting coughed and said with a smile:

"Young friend Tong Ya, would you be willing to have a talk with this old man?"

The few people nearby immediately stopped in their tracks, and Wan Yuankai hurriedly shut his mouth as well. Li Tongya quickly replied, "Senior, you are too courteous. It is this junior's fortune to speak with a Great Cultivator such as yourself!"

Xiao Chuting chuckled and led Li Tongya into the main courtyard. They sat beside a blue stone table, and attendants naturally brought them clear tea. Xiao Chuting took a light sip and said softly, "I do not often come to Crown Cloud Peak, so the hospitality is inevitably somewhat humble. I hope you will not mind, young friend."

Li Tongya accepted the teacup and took a small sip. A clear sweetness immediately rose from the tip of his tongue, and his mind became utterly lucid. Resisting the urge to drain the cup in one gulp, he hurriedly shook his head and repeatedly said he would not dare.

"My grandson cultivated alongside your brother at Green Spike Peak for several years, and he spoke with this old man about him a few times."

Xiao Chuting smiled and continued, "Your younger brother possesses extraordinary talent in the path of the sword. Peak Master Si Yuanbai has called him Green Spike Peak's finest talent in centuries and treasures him greatly."

Born into a farming household, Li Tongya had always used tea bowls in the village. He was still somewhat uncomfortable holding that tiny teacup when he heard this, and he froze before answering in surprise and delight:

"Jing Er never mentioned this to the family..."

"Your younger brother is a good child. Have you looked inside that brocade pouch?"

As Xiao Chuting watched Li Tongya, a trace of reminiscence flashed through his eyes, as though he had recalled something from a distant past. Smiling, he said:

"There are five Spirit Stones inside. They are the resources allotted to him over the past five years. He likely consumed things such as spirit rice and spirit pills himself, but he saved every one of these Spirit Stones."

Li Tongya was stunned. His heart ached faintly as he murmured:

"Our Li Clan has made that child suffer."

"Ah, do not think that way. Prosperity and ruin are shared alike."

Xiao Chuting waved a hand and brushed it over the table. A small white jade bottle immediately appeared, and he continued:

"I see that you are still at Embryonic Breath, Azure Origin Wheel. There is a dose of Clarity Spirit Powder here. Use it to break through to Jade Capital."

Caught utterly off guard, Li Tongya hurriedly rose and waved his hands repeatedly. "Senior! I cannot accept this."

"Take the elixir and leave. Do not chatter. Your family does not even have a Jade Capital Wheel cultivator—do not disgrace Green Spike Peak."

Xiao Chuting spoke flatly, frowned, and rose to walk toward the backyard, leaving behind only two words:

"See him out!"

At the foot of Crown Cloud Peak, Li Tongya smiled bitterly as he tightened his hold on the elixir in his robes. Looking at Wan Yuankai's complicated expression, he said:

"Brother Yuankai, about this market..."

"Oh."

Only then did Wan Yuankai snap out of his daze. He pointed toward the small path ahead and explained:

"Just follow this road with me. There is an illusion array around the market that keeps mortals out, so do not wander about."

The two walked for a while, and the view suddenly opened up. On the formerly deserted mountain path appeared a small gathering place, bustling beyond compare. People came and went, and the sound of conversation never ceased.

"Brother Tong Ya, my clan has assigned me a task, so let us part here. We can meet later at the foot of the mountain and take the carriage back together."

Wan Yuankai cupped his hands and smiled at Li Tongya, then swiftly headed east.

Watching Wan Yuankai disappear into the distance, Li Tongya shook his head and looked toward a roadside stall. Its owner was holding a book and reading, his face rather troubled. Several talismans, some unknown Spirit Objects, and several small flags lay displayed on the stall.

"These are Array Flags?"

Li Tongya looked at the grayish-white little flags. Cautious, he did not touch them, but asked instead.

"Yes. The flag cloth is made from the refined hide of a Jade Capital Wheel Demon Beast, and the poles are White Jade Wood. Eight Spirit Stones for the set."

Li Tongya could not help recalling the six flags Xiao Yuansi had sold to his family. He asked:

"I heard there are Array Flags with White Pattern Carp skin for the flag cloth and Red Birch Wood for the poles... What price would those be?"

The stall owner was immediately stunned. His gaze toward Li Tongya became markedly more eager, and his tone gained several degrees of respect as he said:

"Senior, Red Birch Wood is manageable, but White Pattern Carp skin is a Qi Refining Stage material. Please go to the shops in the east for such artifacts. The stalls here only deal in Fetal Breath Realm items."

"So that was it."

Li Tongya suddenly understood and thought to himself:

"It seems Xiao Yuansi gave my family a fairly cheap price. These Embryonic Breath Array Flags already cost eight Spirit Stones, so valuing those Array Flags at twelve Spirit Stones was not expensive after all."